The Amazing Race 13

Development and filming

The Amazing Race 13 spanned 40,000 miles (64,000 km) in 23 days, visiting eight different countries. This included the series' first visits to Bolivia, Cambodia and Kazakhstan, and return visits to Brazil, New Zealand, India, and Russia, with the finish line in Portland, Oregon. CBS had originally planned to only air one installment of The Amazing Race (season 12) in the 2007–08 season, but due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, CBS ordered a 13th installment as a replacement for programs affected by the strike. CBS greenlit the 13th installment on December 9, 2007. Race locations were scouted in January 2008 and filming took place between April and May 2008.

This is the second season with a course that circumnavigated the world westward (The Amazing Race 10 was the first, and followed by later seasons).

This was the first season in which an eliminated team was absent from the finish line, where teams normally cheer on the finalists, as Dallas Imbimbo (of Toni & Dallas) had misplaced his passport and the team's money in Russia on the penultimate leg. This had been hinted at in promotional materials aired before the Race began, where CBS revealed that one team made "an unprecedented mistake that ultimately prohibit[ed] them from joining their fellow Racers at the finish line." In a post-race interview, Dallas revealed that the loss of the passport and money was partly caused by the changing of a microphone battery by production. The passport was eventually turned in at the U.S. Embassy in Russia, but it was still too late for Dallas and his mother to join their fellow racers at the finish line. Emily "Starr" Spangler revealed in a post-race interview that Toni and Dallas joined the other racers in Portland, Oregon at a party the night following the end of the race.

Post-race interviews revealed that Emily "Starr" Spangler and Dallas Imbimbo – who competed on opposing teams – had been long-distance dating for six months, since the show completed taping.

Andrew Lappitt and Daniel "Dan" Honig (of Andrew & Dan) stated in a post-race interview that the second U-Turn was available on Leg 9 but it was not used by any teams, thus it was not aired in the show. This was the first season in which racers did not use an available U-Turn (a race feature introduced in the previous season).

Cast

Applications for The Amazing Race 13 were due on November 27, 2007. Semi-finalist interviews were held in December 2007 and January 2008 and final casting interviews took place in February 2008, in Los Angeles.

The cast featured a team of fraternity brothers, married hippies, southern belles, businesswomen divorcees, and a retired NFL player hoping to reconnect with his estranged wife.

The show also featured John Keoghan, host Phil Keoghan's father, as the local greeter at Te Puke in Keoghan's native New Zealand.

This is the only cast after the first All-Stars edition that was not represented in The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business or the second All-Stars edition.

Winner Emily "Starr" Spangler was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader prior to the race, while Nicholas "Nick" Spangler recently opened on Broadway in the musical The Book of Mormon.

Marketing

CBS heavily promoted the new season, including placing advertising on the top of three hangar buildings at Los Angeles International Airport prior to the premiere. Unlike other seasons, CBS revealed a location map of where the Race would be traveling prior to the start of the season.

Results

The following teams participated in the season, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers:

1. "Bees Are Much Calmer Than All This!" – Anita
2. "Do You Like American Candy?" – Marisa
3. "Did You Push My Sports Bra Off the Ledge?" – Christy
4. "I Wonder If They Like Blondes in New Zealand?" – Marisa
5. "Do It Like a Madman" – Dan
6. "Please Hold While I Singe My Skull" – Christy
7. "My Nose Is on Fire" – Sarah
8. "I'm Like an Angry Cow" – Terence
9. "That Is Studly" – Andrew
10. "You're Gonna Get Me Killed" – Tina
11. "You Look Like Peter Pan" – Starr

Prizes

The prize for each leg was awarded to the first place team for that leg. All trips are sponsored by Travelocity. The prizes were:

Elimination Station

The first five teams eliminated were sequestered at a villa in Acapulco, Mexico to await the finale. Subsequently eliminated teams telephoned to inform the teams at the villa of their elimination, but continued to run the race as decoys to throw off spoilers to the final outcome of the race. The sequestered teams met up with the decoy teams in the final destination city, to cheer the final three teams at the finish line. (The exception was Toni & Dallas, who were stuck in Russia after their elimination due to the loss of Dallas' passport.)

CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in the Pacific Time Zone to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.

1. After Leg 1, Anita & Arthur were the first team eliminated and sent to the villa. They expressed their disappointment for being eliminated so early but were also appreciative of their surroundings.
2. After Leg 2, Anthony & Stephanie were the second team eliminated and sent to the villa. Anita and Arthur were surprised but excited that it was them, and Anthony and Stephanie felt welcomed and less depressed over their elimination. Over a meal, they predicted that Terence & Sarah would win the race. The two teams then enjoyed the sights and sounds of Acapulco.
3. After Leg 3, Mark & Bill were the third team eliminated and sent to the villa. They were glad that the two teams there were shocked and saddened to hear that they were eliminated. As they retold how they were eliminated, they found Mexican wrestling masks in their room. The six were later brought, at night, to a luchadore exhibition where Anthony and Stephanie had a lack of interest and left to roam the streets instead.
4. After Leg 4, Marisa & Brooke were the fourth team eliminated and sent to the villa. They were excited on how lavish the villa was. They then discussed what happened in New Zealand before they all went into town and Anthony, Stephanie, and Bill did a bungee jump.
5. After Leg 5, Aja & Ty were the fifth team eliminated and sent to the villa. Before they arrived, the others went to the market and prepared a celebratory lunch. The teams were surprised that it was Aja & Ty, who brought news about the race. After the meal, Anthony did not offer to help clean, leaving Stephanie embarrassed. Meanwhile, Ty felt awkward and predicted that Andrew & Dan would be the next team eliminated.
6. Leg 6 was a non-elimination leg. The five eliminated teams went to the beach where they encountered a weird individual who staged a "performance" for the teams in the ocean. There were mixed reactions from the teams with Anita being thrilled and filled with admiration while Ty was having difficulty understanding the different lifestyle of the people in Mexico.
7. After Leg 7, Kelly & Christy were the sixth team eliminated. They called the villa during the early hours in Acapulco, and recalled their horrifying "Holi Festival" Roadblock experience and gave them an update on the race.
8. After Leg 8, Terence & Sarah were the seventh team eliminated. Before their phone call, the eliminated teams went to La Quebrada to watch cliff divers. After that, they gave opinions on who would be eliminated next. Most of them thought it would be Andrew & Dan. They were all shocked when Terence & Sarah called, as several were rooting for them.
9. Leg 9 was a non-elimination leg. While Aja and Ty had a minor tiff with each other, Marisa and Brooke struggled to make toast. Anthony started complaining about how slow time is passing in the villa. All in all, most of the sequestered teams reveal that they are missing home and are eager to return to their normal lives. Most of them wanted to see either Toni & Dallas or Ken & Tina win the race.
10. After Leg 10, Toni & Dallas were the eighth and final team to be eliminated. The first five eliminated teams packed-up to head for the finish line location. As they packed to leave the villa, each team recalled their experience with each other at the villa and expressed their excitement for returning home.
11. Leg 11 was the final leg of The Amazing Race 13. The five sequestered teams arrived in Portland, Oregon, where they checked into a hotel and were reunited with Terence and Sarah. Toni and Dallas then called the six teams at the hotel, breaking the news that they had been eliminated and would most likely not be joining them at the finish line due to their passport mishap. The teams then went to the finish line, where they reunited with Kelly and Christy, and some of the teams again expressed who they wanted to win. Nick & Starr express their joy and disbelief at winning the race, while Ken & Tina express their disappointment but vow to make their marriage work. Andrew & Dan express their elation at making it to third place.

Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)

Airdate: September 28, 2008

From the starting line at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, teams opened clues and were given their first destination city: Salvador, Brazil. The clue instructed them to go to Los Angeles International Airport with space for six teams on an American Airlines flight, while the remaining five teams departed three hours behind on a United Airlines flight.

Upon arrival in Salvador, teams had to head to o Rei do Pernil sandwich shop and become baristas. They had to choose a traditional vending cart, take it to Praça da Sé, and deliver it to a man named Indio in order to receive their next clue. The clue directed teams to 19th Batalhão de Caçadores (19th Hunters Battalion) Military Base. Once there, teams had to take one of three departure times for the following morning, and spent the night under a mosquito net.

The next day, teams received a clue directing them to Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, where they picked up the Detour clue, a choice of between Hard Way Up or Soft Way Down. In Hard Way Up, teams emulated a religious ceremony by climbing the Escadaria do Passo on their hands and knees. At the top, teams were asked a mystery question (How many stairs have you climbed?). Teams would receive their next clue by answering correctly (i.e.: 53); if they answered incorrectly, they had to climb the staircase again. In Soft Way Down, teams had to go to the top of the Elevador Lacerda (an outdoor elevator) and climb down a 240-foot (73 m) cargo net to receive their next clue. Only three teams were permitted on a net at the same time. The clues following the Detour instructed teams to head to the Pit Stop at Forte de São Marcelo.

Leg 2 (Brazil)

Airdate: October 5, 2008

Teams flew to Fortaleza, then traveled to Cumbuco and made their way to Praia do Cumbuco. Once there, teams had to ride a dune buggy along the beach to Barraca do Manoel in Cauípe for their next clue, which was the Detour, a choice between Beach It or Docket. In Beach It, teams had to travel to Pecém Beach and move a traditional Brazilian sailboat known as a jangada. This was accomplished by placing logs underneath it to roll the boat into an inlet, in order to receive their next clue. In Docket, teams had to travel to nearby Port of Pecem and search in a computer database for the specific ID number to a shipping container that held their next clue.

Teams were directed from the Detour to Parque de Vaquejada, where they found the Roadblock, which asked "Who's calm and laid-back?" One team member had to find the name of their next destination, hidden amongst several advertisements painted along a 600-foot (180 m) wall. If they chose the right advertisement, a painter would give them their next clue, informing them to travel to Cidade da Criança for the Pit Stop.

Leg 3 (Brazil → Bolivia)

Airdate: October 12, 2008

At the start of the leg, teams were told their next destination, La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia. Upon arrival, they had to head to the statue of Simón Bolívar where they spent the night. The next morning, a newspaper was delivered and teams searched the classified ads for their next clue, which instructed them to head to Narvaez Hat Shop in Plaza Murillo. They had to buy a traditional bowler hat called a bombin to get their next clue, and were advised to hold onto their hat for the rest of the leg.

The clue was a Detour, a choice between Musical March or Bumpy Ride. In Musical March, teams had to make their way on foot to three plazas (Plaza del Estudiante, Plaza Bolivia and Plaza Isabela la Católica), several blocks apart, gathering the members of a marching band. When they lead them to la Plaza Abroa, a band leader would give them their next clue. In Bumpy Ride, teams had to make their way on foot to Mercado de las Brujas (the Witches' Market), where they had to ride a traditional wooden bicycle, down the steep cobblestone streets, to La Plaza Abaroa to receive their next clue.

Once the teams arrived in Plaza Abaroa, they found the U-Turn board (no one chose to use it). Teams were directed to Los Titanes Del Ring in El Alto, where they found the Roadblock, which asked "Who's ready to pick a fight?" One team member had to learn six wrestling moves from luchadoras called the Fighting Cholitas (cholitas luchadoras). After successfully performing these moves in the ring, they were given their next clue. If they failed, they had to get additional training from the Fighting Cholita before they could try again. The clue directed teams to the Pit Stop at Mirador el Monticulo.

Leg 4 (Bolivia → New Zealand)

Airdate: October 19, 2008

Teams flew to the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Upon arrival, they were directed to Gulf Harbour, where teams had to untie a large Gordian Knot to retrieve a clue from inside. The clue contained a Fast Forward, which required one team to climb the mast of Sky Tower and retrieve a Travelocity roaming gnome from the top. If successful, the team would win the Fast Forward award and receive a helicopter ride to the Pit Stop.

Other teams had to head to Mount Eden to find their next clue, the Roadblock that asked "Who has an eye for detail?" One team member had to search among several hundred Māori warriors, who were performing the traditional haka dance, for one whose tā moko face tattoo matched the pattern depicted in their clue. If they got a wrong match, the warrior would take the image away and the racer would have to start over with a new pattern. The next clue directed teams to CityLife Hotel, from where they had to use binoculars to spot one of eight Travelocity roaming gnomes hidden around Auckland. They then had to retrieve one of them, and find their next clue on the bottom of its base.

The gnome's clue directed teams to Kiwi 360 in Te Puke, where they found the Detour: a choice between Matter of Time or Matter of Skill. In Matter of Time, teams had to drive to the Kiwi Orchard Farm, use their feet to crush a vat of kiwifruit to produce 12 US quarts (11,000 ml) of juice. Each team member had to drink a glass of juice to receive their next clue. In Matter of Skill, teams had to drive to Blokart Heaven, assemble two Blokarts, and each team member had to complete three laps around a track. Once all laps were completed, the track official would give them their next clue. The clues teams received from the Detour instructed them to travel to the Pit Stop at Summerhill Recreational Farm in Tauranga.

Leg 5 (New Zealand → Cambodia)

Airdate: October 26, 2008

Teams were instructed to fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival, they had to travel to Phlau Ben Lane and find a roadside gas station, where they had to fill a truck with 25 liters (6.6 U.S. gal) of diesel fuel. They then rode the truck to Siem Reap Harbor on Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Teams rode a marked boat to the boat stop Kho Andeth for their next clue.

At Kho Andeth, teams found the Detour, a choice of Village Life or Village Work. In Village Life, teams had to retrieve a set of toy teeth from a dentist, a doll from a tailor, and a basketball from a floating basketball court. Each team member had to score a basket before returning all the items they had collected to the Siem Reap Harbor where they would receive their next clue. In Village Work, teams had to go into Tonlé Sap, retrieve two full baskets of fish from the water, and return them to the Siem Reap Harbor to receive their next clue.

The clues from the Detour instructed teams to travel to Angkor Wat, where they found the Roadblock, which asked "Who has better sense of direction?" One team member had to search for an elusive room called Prassat Kok Troung and find an echo chamber. Once there, they had to stand in a specific spot and thump their chest in such a way as to make an echo sound in the room. They could then pick up a stone frieze, which displayed their next clue on the reverse. This instructed teams to go to the Pit Stop at Bayon Temple.

Leg 6 (Cambodia → India)

Airdate: November 2, 2008

At the start of the leg, teams flew to Delhi, India. Upon arrival, they had to go to Moonlight Motors, where they found the Roadblock that asked "Who's got an artistic flair?" One team member had to repaint black portions of an auto-rickshaw green, to show that the tuk tuk had switched to using natural gas as fuel. The team member had to cover all of the glass and wheels of the tuk tuk with newspaper, before using green spray-paint. When they finished painting, they would receive their next clue.

The clue directed the teams to The Ambassador Hotel in the capital of New Delhi, where they found the Detour, a choice of Launder Money or Launder Clothes. In Launder Money, teams had to make a traditional Indian wedding necklace by stapling ₹10 notes to the necklace that added up to ₹780. They then had to find the newlywed couple in the crowded banquet hall, and present them the necklace to receive their next clue. In Launder Clothes, teams had to use a traditional charcoal iron to press 20 pieces of clothing in order to receive their next clue from a laundry woman. The clues instructed teams to head to the Pit Stop at Bahá'í House.

Leg 7 (India)

Airdate: November 9, 2008

At the start of the leg, teams headed to Deshbandu Apartments and found the Roadblock clue, which asked, "Who's ready for a colorful experience?" One team member had to climb ladders to find a suspended envelope marked "The Amazing Race" among several marked "Try Again", amid celebrators of Holi, the Festival of Colours, who would bombarded them with the traditional colored dyes and water. Once they found the right envelope, the clue directed them to Charity Birds Hospital at Jain Mandir in Old Delhi, where teams had to search bird cages to find the next clue.

At the hospital, teams found both the Speed Bump and the Detour. For the Speed Bump, Ken & Tina had to serve holy water to hundreds of Sikhs at the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib at Chandni Chowk. Once they satisfied the waiting crowd, they could continue to the Detour, which was a choice between Bleary Eyed and Teary Eyed. In Bleary Eyed, teams had to follow a series of power lines in Nai Sarak Street, keeping mark of the numbered tags. They then reported these numbers to a power company official and plugged in a musical Ganesh statue to receive their next clue. In Teary Eyed, teams had to search a spice market for a store named Ram Bhandar, obtain 40-pound (18 kg) bags of chili peppers, transport them a quarter of a mile (400 m) to Shwan Kumar and Sons, and then grind them into chili powder with a mortar and pestle to receive their next clue. These clues sent teams to the Pit Stop at Humayun's Tomb.

Leg 8 (India → Kazakhstan)

Airdate: November 16, 2008

Teams flew to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Upon arrival, they had to travel by taxi to Alel Agro Chicken Factory in the outskirts of the city and search for the next clue. There was a Fast Forward in which one team had to travel to Alasha Restaurant and join in a traditional Kazakh feast, by eating a serving of a sheep fat known as korduk. When both team members finished eating their serving, they would win the Fast Forward award.

Other teams must face the Roadblock, which asked them "Who's feeling peckish?" One team member had to enter a marked chicken shack and search among 30,000 chickens for one atop a clutch of seven golden eggs, and their next clue. The clue instructed teams to search a giant crane truck and travel to Kok Tobe Arch, at the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains. Upon arrival, teams would follow the marked path to a Mongol Warrior, who used a trained golden eagle to deliver their next clue.

The clue was a Detour, a choice of Play Like Mad or Act Like Fools. In Play Like Mad, teams had travel to the Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments (referred to as State Museum of National Musical Instruments), then learn to play a traditional folk tune on the dombra and the shang-kobuz. They then had to go to a park and perform for locals to earn tips totaling 200₸ (approximately US$1.50) to receive their next clue. In Act Like Fools, teams had to go to the Almaty State Puppet Theater, put on a two-person cow costume, travel across town to a milk stand, and drink a glass of milk. At the bottom of the glass was the name of their next destination: the Zelyoni Bazar (Green Market), where they had to find the meat section to receive their next clue. Depending on choice of Detour, teams were required to take the dombra or cow costume with them to the Pit Stop at Old Square.

Leg 9 (Kazakhstan → Russia)

Airdate: November 23, 2008

Teams flew to to Moscow, the capital of Russia, then traveled to Krutitsy and searched Dormition Cathedral. Teams took part in an Eastern Orthodox candle ceremony before they could receive their next clue. (All women were required to don headscarves prior to entering the monastery as per religious custom.)

The clue directed teams to Kolosok Camp in Tatarintsevo, where they found the Detour, a choice between Boots or Borscht. Both tasks required that the teams dress in a Russian military uniform, including traditional foot socks. In Boots, teams had to learn a Russian parade march, then fall in line and perform one full lap with a drill team. If their performance was satisfactory, the drill master would give them their next clue. In Borscht, teams traveled to a nearby tent, put on a chef's hat and apron, and served each of 75 soldiers a bowl of borscht to receive their next clue. (There was a U-Turn according to post-race interviews, which was unused and unaired.)

The clue teams received after the Detour instructed them to travel to Zhukovsky Bakery in Zhukovsky, where they found the Roadblock, which asked "Who has a strong back?" One team member had to carry fifty 55-pound (25 kg) bags of flour, deliver them to a bakery and lay them down on the floor to receive their next clue from the baker. The clue directed them to the Pit Stop at Neskuchniy Garden.

Leg 10 (Russia)

Airdate: November 30, 2008

At the start of the leg, teams traveled to Severnoye Tushino Park where they had to search the submarine and find the sonar room. Among the crew members, the actor who appeared in the film The Hunt for Red October would give them their next clue.

Teams were instructed to travel to Fallen Monument Park (referred to as "Graveyard of the Fallen Monuments"), where they found the Roadblock, which asked "Who's good at solving mysteries, literally?" One team member had to count the number of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin statues in the park, then proceed to an antique book shop named Bukinist in Arbat Street. The numbers of Lenin and Stalin statues were to be the tens and ones digits of a number that they had to tell the bookstore manager; if incorrect, a 10-minute penalty would be issued before another guess could be made. If correct, the team member would receive a copy of The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, and flip to the page of the correct answer (62) to find a clue about their next destination – Bulgakov's old flat – where their teammate and next clue would be waiting.

The clue instructed teams to travel to Sokolniki Park and search for a woman with a Shetland Pony to receive their next clue. There, they encountered the Speed Bump and the Detour. For their Speed Bump, Andrew & Dan had to learn and perform a traditional Russian dance to the satisfaction of a choreographer before they could continue racing. The Detour was a choice between Ride the Rails or Ride the Lines. In Ride the Rails, teams had to travel by the Moscow Metro from Sokolniki to Ulitsa 1905 Goda, where they could pick up a samosa from a marked snack stand. The wrapper then directed them to go to Kitay-Gorod and give the samosa to a babushka near the statue of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Slavyanskaya Square, who would give them their next clue. In Ride the Lines, teams had to travel by trolleybus from Sokolniki to Krasnoselskaya Station to find a key maker who would give them a key. The keytag directed them to Rizhskaya Station, where their key would open up a locker. At the end of both Detours, teams received a photo of the VDNKh Metro Station and were told to search the grounds of the station to find their next clue. This clue sent teams to travel by foot to the Pit Stop at VDNKh Park.

Leg 11 (Russia → United States)

Airdate: December 7, 2008

Teams flew to their final destination city: Portland, Oregon. Upon arrival, they had to travel to Tilikum Retreat Center in Newberg and the Detour, a choice of High & Dry or Low & Wet. In High & Dry, teams had to climb a tree to a certain height where they had to balance themselves on a log, then jump off to each grab half of their next clue. In Low & Wet, teams participated in a logrolling tradition, where they had to walk across floating logs a distance of 800 feet (240 m) to a river island to retrieve their next clue.

Following the Detour, clues instructed teams to travel to Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks. Once there, teams had to take a zipline from the bridge to a nearby island. On the island, teams then undertook a memory challenge involving the previous ten legs. Given an answer board with spaces numbered for the first ten legs, they removed covers one at a time, revealing a symbol of a Roadblock, Detour, Route Info, or Pit Stop. They then had to search through 150 identical clue boxes to find a picture depicting that task or location from that leg. When they retrieved a picture and placed it on the board in the corresponding position, a green light would indicate it was correct and they could move on to the next; otherwise they had to try again. The correct answers were:

Once all 10 spaces were correct, teams were allowed to retrieve the next clue from the parking lot. This clue directed them to the Portland Building, then teams searched for a green dinosaur statue located in the adjacent Standard Building. The next clue sent them to Alder Street cart pod, where teams had to search for the food cart selling ethnic food from the country of the last Pit Stop (i.e.: Russia), where the proprietor would hand them the next clue.

The clue directed teams to the place where "the magic is in the hole", and left them to deduce the reference to Voodoo Doughnut, where they received their final clue, sending them to the finish line at Pittock Mansion.